UNC named the ‘front-runner’ for 2023 four-star DE
Chapel Hill has become a place that top recruits have fallen in love with on visits during the Mack Brown era. And, once again that seems to be the case with a top four-star target.
2023 defensive end Joshua Mickens took a visit to North Carolina on May 20 and now the Tar Heels are the team to beat, according to Rivals national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney.
The people. The players. The coaches. “Everything” stood out to the four-star defensive end from Indianapolis (Ind.) Lawrence Central during his recent visit to North Carolina and the Tar Heels have now clearly emerged as the front-runner in his recruitment. Some Big Ten programs are definitely involved but if Mickens doesn’t end up in Chapel Hill at this point it would be a big surprise.
Mickens holds offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Penn State, Wisconsin, USC, Stanford, Indiana, Purdue, Cincinnati and more. Altogether he has 22 offers.
The Indiana native is ranked the No. 18 defensive end in the Rivals250 rankings and is the No. 163 player in the 247Sports class of 2023 rankings.
UNC currently holds one Crystal Ball prediction for Mickens.
In 2021, Mickens has 70 tackles and 22.5 tackles for loss. He added 12 sacks, seven pass breakups and five forced fumbles.
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